Sunday 03/21

It is hot in Cambodia – my guess is about 37 Celsius that’s a little over 98 degrees Fahrenheit. We had a brief shower this afternoon that settled down the dust – but also moved the humidity up a notch or two. We are staying at the Ly Heng Chhay Hotel. Rooms are decent – but problem is we are on the 5th floor with no working elevator. Other problem is that there is no on site restaurant and no Internet – however they have had internet in the past – and the elevator has worked recently – so maybe we are just in a lull. We haven’t found any other better options -- unless you go to the casino zone – and then the price jacks way way way up
Cambodia has established a Casino Zone – designed for Thai’s and foreigners – in fact Cambodian people are not allowed to enter unless they are with foreigners or picking up foreigners. – We have had a couple of good meals in the Casino Zone (full dinner for under $5) and it is the only place that we have been able to find wireless at one hotel. Unless the Ly Heng Chhay gets their internet working – future teams will need to limit their internet expectations and use. Although we hate to be disconnected from families – sometimes we just need to focus on the area where we are seeking to serve. I have found a strong AT&T signal (or their Cambodia partner) and have used text messaging to touch base. I think this is only about 50 cents per text. We have purchased a cell phone and simm card for intra-country calls which has worked well. We will be passing the phone along to future teams.
After church today – where Jamey spoke on our key team verse – from 1 John2:5-6 “By this we know that we are in Him, the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked.” Jamey did a great job and related well with good stories and application.
Tonight we had dinner with Mr Chomno In – the Founder and Director of CHO. It is clear God called him to this ministry as he seems to keep going by faith. As is often the case in these settings where there are limited numbers of believers in dominate cultures – Chomno made his decision for Christ as a result of a dream. He had been studying to become a Monk and at the same time – attending English classes at a Christian Church. Chomno was obviously dealing with spiritual issues while at the same time – following the normal male path of studying to be a monk. God timed it to where one day – Chomno needed to decide to either be Baptized as a reflection of his faith – or shave his head in the pursuit of becoming a monk. That night he had a dream which clearly showed him the choice and sacrifice that he would make.
Chomno grew up in the midst of the Khmer Rouge Power in Cambodia. While He is a good example of how a persons history and life experience do not have to dictate a life direction – he has overcome many obstacles with a strong and engaging faith. The Khmer Rouge carried out a planned attack on the people and culture of Cambodia with radical programs, seeking to isolate the country from foreign influence. They broke the people and drove them back to another era. The Banking System was abolished, all religion outlawed, and schools closed along with hospitals, businesses and factories. They sought to drive the country back to a totally agrarian Communist Commune economy and assassinated most elite, educated, business leaders and foreign connected. Money was abolished, books burned and families split up and sent to commune farms and camps. Chomno found himself split from his family and in a holding camp surrounded by machine gun posts and land mines – miraculously one night walking out through and armored and land mined field. For years, Cambodia dealt with issues of un-exploded ordinances and land mines – still a problem in many areas.
The combination of these factors broke Chomno’s heart to bring rescue to the poor and the afflicted and the oppressed in his land – by bringing them the Hands of Christ and the Good News of a Savior.
While CHO is involved in issues of Human Trafficking of children, they also are engaged in remaining issues of “child soldiers” conscripted by the Khmer Rouge, poverty, education, micro-enterprise, agricultural production, clean water. HIV/AIDS and street children. Their approach is certainly very wholistic, and their efforts are well accepted by the government around Poipet, they do rund the risk of spreading themselves too thin over multiple issues without fully equipped management staff to handle such diversity.

More later

Tim Neet